Automatic machine for packaging cabinets



Aprll 26, 1966 M. VAN ANTWERPEN ETAL 3,

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CABINETS ll Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 22

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SAX hn\ INVENTORS MARTIN VAN ANTWERPEN LESLIE G. FREEDY /d gjrwtfit AT T OR N E YS April 26, 1966 M. VAN ANTWERPEN ETAL 3,247,645

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CABINETS Filed Aug. 22, 1962 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 E INVENTORS MARTIN VAN ANTWERPEN LESLIE e. FREEDY BY g g; m gfir ATTORNEYS A ril 26, 1966 M. VAN ANTWERPEN ETAL 3,247,645

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CABINETS Filed Aug. 22, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 I I I i l I I I I l I I 1 1 1 1 I l l {I N E P SR NE W T M NE AE V R W F .v 6 E ||\|||HH||||||.|||II.|| HH-H nlfl'l l HIII' i I I I I E ML |||HIIIIIII ms EN w V h\ PWQN gift April 1966 M. VAN ANTWERPEN ETAL 3,

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CABINETS Filed Aug. 22, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 2/5 57 ===r= INVENTORS 36 :i f MARTIN VAN ANTWERPEN 55 1 LESLlE G.FREEDY Z5 X 35 I BY 4 I ATTORNEYS April 1966 M. VAN ANTWERPEN ETAL 3,247,645

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CABINETS ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 22, 1962 INVENTORS MARTIN VAN ANTWERPEN LESLIE 6. FREEDY ATTORNEYS 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 QWIM hm Z PQ m m R x INVENTORS MARTIN VAN ANTWERPE LESLI E G. FREEDY M. VAN ANTWERPEN ETAL Ulllnluuuuunllllnl m a 63 N3 A ril 26, 1966 AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CABINETS Filed Aug. 22, 1962 ATTORNEYS April 1966 M. VAN ANTWERPEN ETAL 3,247,645

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CABINETS ll Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 22, 1962 INVENTORS MARTIN VAN ANTWERPEN LESLlE G. FREEDY ATTORNEYS Aprll 26, 1966 M. VAN ANTWERPEN ETAL 3,

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CABINETS Filed Aug. 22, 1962 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS MARTIN VAN ANTWERPEN LESLIE G. FREEDY Aprll 1966 M. VAN ANTWERPEN ETAL 3,247,645

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CABINETS Filed Aug. 22

ll Sheets-Sheet 9 .m-vnmum m' bft ATTORNEYS Flu Aprll 1966 M. VAN ANTWERPEN ETAL 3,

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CABINETS 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Aug. 22, 1962 INVENTORS MARTIN VAN ANTWERPEN LESLIE G.FREEDY AT TORNEYS April 1966 M. VAN ANTWERPEN ETAL 3,247,645

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CABINETS Filed Aug. 22, 1962 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTORS MARTIN VAN ANTWERPEN LESLIE 5. FREEDV ATTQRNEYS United States Patent 3,247,645 AUTOMATIC MAIIHINE FOR PACKAGING CABINETS Martin Van Antwerpen, Milwaukee, and Leslie G. Freedy,

Wauwatosa, Wis, assignors to Variant Company, Inc,

Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Aug. 22, 1962, Ser. No. zlsfiiill 12 Claims. (Cl. 53-186) This invention appertains to packaging machines and more particularly to a novel mechanism for setting up carton blanks; for applying a shock absorbing and cushioning member around the articles to be packed and for moving the articles with the cushioning member thereabout into a setup carton;

The machine has been so designed (with modifications) to package any desired article; however, in the present adaptation the, machine has been shown for handling a bathroom medicine cabinet of the type having a front mirror which projects laterallyfrom all sides of the body of the cabinet. Such cabinets require careful handling and packaging and much difiiculty has been experienced in adequately protecting the mirror with its outwardly projecting sides. Usually, the cabinets have been packed by hand and various types of cushioning materials have been utilized with varying success. Obviously, hand packing is a tedious, time consuming and costly operation.

It is therefore, one of the primary objects of this invention to provide a completely automatic machine for feeding thecabinets with the mirrors uppermost and in proper timed relation toward a means for setting up cartons in their tubular form from blanks, with means disposed directly in front of the carton for delivering a measured quantity of a particular type of cushioning and shock absorbing strip in front of an approaching cabinet and in such a way that the strip will receive and be folded around the edge of the mirror as the cabinet is pushed into the awaiting set up carton.

Another prime object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism for feeding a length of a slotted, peaked cushioning strip transversely across the machine and for cutting off a measured quantity of the strip and thenguiding and dropping the strip with the peaks innermost in front of the mirror portion of a bathroom medicine cabinet as the same is advanced so that the strip will be properly folded around the mirror.

A further prime object of the invention is the provision of a platform with novel guides for receiving the measured lengthtof peaked cushioning strip from the strip guiding and dropping means, so as to eifectively hold the strip in proper position in front of the mirror portion of an advancing cabinet, the platform being constructed in spacedtsections, so that the cabinet will ride between the sections and thus engage the portion of the strip lying across the sections for carrying the strip oif of the platform with the strip folded around the mirror.

A further salient object of the invention is to provide novel means co-acting with the facing flaps of a waiting set up carton for facilitating the guiding of the cabinet with the cushioning strip into the carton.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a simple and novel means for pushing the cabinet with the protecting strip into the set up carton and means co-acting with the pusher means for then, carrying the carton with a cabinet out of the machine.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism for supporting a stack of cartons in their flat form and for dropping one carton at a time from the stack on a set up table.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple means embodying a swin ing arm having picking points for setting up the carton on the table in combination with a carton squaring up member and for holding the carton in its set up tubular form during the pushing of a cabinet therein.

A still further important object of the invention is the employance of a simplified means for adjusting parts of the machine so that cabinets of various sizes and cushioning strips of various widths, can be successfully handled.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of the complete cabinet packaging machine ready for operation;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the front /2 of the machine, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the view showing more particularly the cabinet advancing mechanism and the packaging strip guiding and delivering mechanism and the platform for receiving the cushioning strip;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional View through the rear half of the machine, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the view showing more particularly the carton blank supporting means and the carton blank setting up means;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary detail longitudinal sectional view through the extreme front of the machine showing a part of the advancing conveyor for a cabinet, the section through thestopplunger being represented by the line 4-4 of FIGURE16 and looking in the direction of the arrows, the cabinet being shown on the conveyor;

FIGURE 5. is a view similar to FIGUREI4 and showing a cabinet being advanced and the means for holding back a second advancing cabinet, FIGURES 4 and 5 being taken on a larger scale than FIGURES 2 and 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary detail transverse sectional view through the machine taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, the view illustrating the conveyor for, the cabinet and the F means for holding back advancing cabinets until a first cabinet is wrapped and packaged;

FIGURE 7 is a complete transverse sectional view through the forward end of the machine taken on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, the view showing the conveyor for the cabinets and parts of the pusher mechanism for the cabinets;

FIGURE 8 is a detail transverse sectional view through the machine taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the view illustrating the means for advancing a peaked cushioning and shock absorbing strip across the machine and the means for severing a measured quantity of the strip from a length;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view through the machine taken on the line 99of FIGURE 1 and represented by the line 99 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows andtoward the carton blank dropping mechanism and setting up mechanism;

FIGURE 10 is a transverse detail sectional view through the cushioning strip advancing mechanism, the section being taken on the line 10'10 of FIGURE 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE ltl'is a detail sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the means employed for governing the advancing of a predetermined length of the strip;

FIGURE 12 is a vertical detail, sectional view taken on the line 1212 of FIGURE 8, looking in the direc tion of the arrows, illustrating the guillotine mechanism for cutting off the advanced measured quantity of the strip;

FIGURE 13 is a 'detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 1313 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the cushioning peaked strip for guiding and dropping the cut portion of the strip in front of an advancing cabinet;

FIGURE 14 is a section similar to FIGURE 13 but taken on the line 1414 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the actuating mechanism for the strip guiding and dropping mean-s;

FIGURE 15 is a detail sectional view similar to FIG- URES 13 and 14 but taken on the line 1515 of FIG- URE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 16 is a detail sectional view taken on the line '1616 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the supporting platform and guide means for receiving the strip from the guiding and dropping means, the view showing a strip ready to be dropped;

FIGURE 17 is a view similar to FIGURE 16 but showing the strip released from the guiding and dropping means and delivered to the platform and in the guiding means carried by said platform;

FIGURE 18 is a horizontal sectional view through an intermediate and rear portion of the mirror, the section being taken on the line 18-18 of FIGURE 2 and 1S13 of FIGURE 3, the view showing the supporting platform for the peaked cushioning strip and the carton setting up and squaring mechanism;

FIGURE 19 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 19--19 0f FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, the view showing the carton flat dropping mechanism and the carton setting up and squaring mechanism, with a carton in position ready to be set up and squared;

FIGURE 20 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view through the picker arm and showing one of the picker points for engaging the carton being set up;

FIGURE 21 is a diagrammatic view in top plan showing a cabinet being advanced toward a cushioned peaked strip and a set up carton;

FIGURE 22 is a diagrammatic view partly in top plan and partly in section showing a cabinet with the cushioning peaked strip thereabout pushed into a carton, and

FIGURE 23 is a fragmentary detail perspective view showing the type of cushioning strip utilized in protecting the cabinet.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter M generally indicates the machine for wrapping and packaging cabinets in cartons and this machine includes conveyor means 25 for receiving medicine cabinets C from an advancing conveyor (not shown) leading from the assembly factory line. The machine M also includes a peaked shock absorbing cushioning strip advancing and measuring mechanism 26, a guillotine or severing mechanism 27 and a strip holding, guiding and dropping mechanism 28. The peaked cushioning and shock absorbing strip is indicated by the reference character S.

The machine M further includes means 29 for receiving a stack of carton flats F, for dropping one carton fiat at' a time and for setting up and squaring a dropped carton, and correlated means 24 for pushing an advancing cabinet off of the conveyor 25 past the strip guiding and dropping means and into a carton and for carrying a carton packed with the cabinet and cushioning strip out of the machine. All of these parts are supported on a suitable fabricated framework 30.

Now referring more particularly to the cabinet conveying mechanism 25 it can be seen that the same is posi- 3. tioned directly in front of the cushioning strip advancing, cutting and dropping mechanism and that these last mentioned pants are arranged directly in front of the carton stack hopper, the carton dropping mechanism and the carton setting up and squaring mechanism. This conveyor is suitably mounted on the framework 30 and is positioned longitudinally of the machine and between sections 31 and 32 of a table top 33. The conveyor 25 preferably includes a pair of endless conveyor belts 34 trained over sets of front and rear pulley wheels 35. These wheels can be keyed or otherwise secured to transversely extending shafts 36 mounted in bearings carried by the framework 30. One set of the pulley wheels 35 can be driven from a motor 37, as best shown in FIG- URES 2 and 7 of the drawings, through the medium of pulley wheels and belt. Positioned on top of the table 33 are longitudinally extending spaced guide walls 38 for cabinets being conveyed. These guide walls 38 can be adjusted toward and away from each other to suit the size of the cabinets being handled by the machine. As illustrated, the sections 31 and 32 of the table 33 are slotted transversely, as at 39, and the guide walls 38 carry laterally projecting brackets 40 having holding bolts 41 which extend through the slots 39. The top runs of the belts 34 extend slightly above the top face of the table 33 and hence the cabinets to be advanced rest on these belts and are moved forwardly with the belts between the guide walls 38. Idler pulleys 42 are rotatably carried by the table 33 or the supporting frame 30 and these idler pulleys support the top runs of the belts 34 at spaced points to prevent the sagging thereof. The inner end of the conveyor extends under the strip guiding and dropping mechanism 28.

Mounted between the sections 31 and 32 of the table top 3 3 and 'below the same and between the runs of the conveyor belts 34 for reciprocatory movement is a part of the cabinet pushing mechanism 24. This part includes a forwardly extending piston rod 43 actuated back and forth by a hydraulic cylinder 44. This cylinder extends under the carton setting up and squaring mechanism 29 and is pivoted at its rear end, as at 45, to 9. depending bracket 45 carried by the rear end of the framework 30. The forward end of the piston rod 43 carries an upstandin-g pusher arm 47. The upper end of the pusher arm 47, in turn, carries a pusher head 48 which is of a U- shape in plan. The forward ends of the pusher head carry pusher feet 49 which are adapted to engage, at proper times, the rear face of a cabinet. The pusher arm 47 has projecting laterally therefrom on its opposite sides guide rollers 50 and these rollers travel over spaced guide tracks 51 carried by the framework 39. The major portions of the tracks are in a horizontal plane; however, the extreme forward ends thereof are inclined downwardly and forwardly, as at 52. The normal position of the pusher is well shown in FIGURE 2, with the rollers 56 adjacent to the lowermost terminals of the tracks 51. Upon forward movement of the piston rod 43 under the influence of fluid entering the forward end of the cylinder 44, the rollers 50 will ride on the inclined portions 52 of the track so that the pusher head will be raised above the tracks and above the conveyor belts 34 for engaging a cabinet and for pushing the cabinet forwardly toward the carton setting up mechanism 29. The advancing cabinet engaging position of the pusher head is illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 2. The mechanism just described cooperates with the means for carrying a loaded carton out of the machine and this will be later set forth in detail. Obviously, as the piston rod 43 is returned to its normal position shown in full lines in FIGURE 2, the pusher head 48 with its feet 49 again is lowered by the travel of the rollers 50 on the inclined port-ion of the track. Hence, the pusher feet are normally below the level of the top face of the table "33. If desired a shock absorbing spring 53 can be carried by the framework 30 and disposed in the path of the pusher arm, so as to prevent an undesirable bang at the end of the travel of the pusher head.

By referring to FIGURES 1 and 18 it can be seen that the mechanism 26 for advancing the peaked cushioning and shock absorbing strip S and for cutting off a measured quantity of the strip and the strip guiding and dropping means 28 are disposed transversely of the machine -and above a receiving platform 54 and the strip holding and guiding means 55 carried thereby. This receiving platform and the strip guiding and holding means are of importance, and it is to be noted that the platform includes spaced companion sections 56. These sections lie on opposite sides of the forward ends of the conveyor belts 34. These platform sections 56 are disposed above the table 33 .and the sections are spaced a sufficient distance apart to permit the riding of a cabinet between the same, for a purpose which will now appear. It is to be noted, however, that these sections 56 support a measured length of the strip S and that the strip S extends across the space between the platform sections. The platform sections are at an angle and height so that a mirror portion of the advancing cabinet will engage that part of the strip S between the table sections 56.

The platform sections 56 are adjustable toward and away from one another transversely of the machine M so as to accommodate cabinets of various widths and are adjustable up and down so as to correctly position the strip S in the path of the mirror portion of the cabinet irrespective of its width.

This adjusting mechanism is of a novel construction and the platform sections 56 are supported in a novel manner on the framework 30 as to permit this adjustment. The framework 30 adjacent to the platform sections 56 include upright supporting standards 57 which can be of an angular shape in cross-section. These standards have slidably mounted thereon for movement up and down slide sleeves 58 and these sleeves embrace the standards 57. Projecting forwardly from the slide sleeves 53 are brackets 59. The slide sleeves also have formed thereon upwardly extending slide plates 60 which fit that against .the front faces of the standards 57. The upper ends of the slide plates 60 carry forwardly extending sets of spaced arms 61. A set of arms 61 is disposed below each section 56 of the platform. The sets of supporting arms carry guide blocks 62 and these guide blocks are received in guide tracks 63 carried by the lower surfaces of the platform sections 56. Thus, by sliding the sleeves 58 up and down theplatform sections can be raised and lowered and by sliding the platform sections 56 on the guide blocks 62 these sections can be adjusted relative to 0 one another. The means employed for raising the guide sleeves 5.8 and associated parts up and down includes vertically extending feed screws 64 rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 65 carried by the upright standards 57. The feed screws have mounted thereon travelling nuts 66 which are rigidly secured to the upper ends of the slide plates 66 and adjacent to the points of connection of the arms 61 with said slide plates. The arms of the sets of arms 61 can be braced in any preferred manner, such as by the use of depending struts 67 extending down from the arms of the sets to the slide plate 60. To bring about the simultaneous turning of the feed screws 64 the lower ends thereof have keyed or otherwise secured thereto beveled gears 68 which mesh with beveled gears 69 keyed or otherwise secured .to a cross-shaft 70. This cross-shaft 76 is rotatably carried by the bearing blocks 65 and one end of the shaft can be provided with a hand crank 71.

-I-Ience, by turning the hand crank 71 and rotating the shaft 66 the feed screws 64 will be turned and the nuts 66 will be moved up and down according to the direction of rotation of the shaft.

The platform sections 56 have rigidly secured to their lower faces rack bars 72 and these rack bars have meshing therewith drive pinions. The drive pinions 73 are secured to upright operating shafts 74. The shafts 74 are rotatably carried by the bearing blocks 59. Keyed or otherwise secured to the lower ends of the shafts 74 are beveled pinions 75 meshing with beveled pinions 76 keyed or otherwise secured to a transverse shaft 77. This transverse shaft 77 is rotatably carried by depending plates 78 secured to the brackets 59 which are in turn carried by the slide sleeves 58. One end of the shaft 77 has secured thereto a hand wheel or crank 79 for bringing about turning of the cross-shaft 77. It is to be noted that the pinions '75 engage opposite sides of the pinions 76 on the shaft 77. Thus, these operating shafts 74 will turn in opposite directions to bring about the desired movement of the platform sections 5'6 toward and away from one another.

The platform sections 56 are provided with the strip holding and guiding means 55 as heretofore mentioned, and this holding and guiding means 55 includes posts 86 which extend upwardly and forwardly at an incline from the platform sections 56. Arranged in front of the inclined posts 80 are upstanding guide walls 31 and the upper ends of these walls are inclined upwardly and inwardly, as at 82, away from the post 80. As the strip S falls the same hits the inclined posts 30 and the inclined portions 82 of the guide walls 81 and is guided onto the platform sections and the strip is properly held by said posts and guide walls. This is best shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. As also heretofore stated, the platform sections 56 are located directly below the advancing and measuring mechanism 26; the guillotine or severing mechanism 27 and the strip holding and guiding and dropping mechanism 28.

At this time, it might be well to consider the type of cushioning strip being handled by the machine M, and such strip is illustrated in detail in FIGURE 23. The strip S is also well shown in FIGS. 23 to 31 inclusive, of the Van Antwerpen Patent No. 2,504,473 issued April 18, 1950. This patent also illustrates a machine for making the strip. The strip S includes a base ply 63, anouter ply 84 and an intermediate ply 85. The inner ply 84 is pro vided at equidistantly spaced points with cushioning peaks 86 and these peaks are provided with slots 87 in which i the edge of the mirror portion of the cabinets C fit. The intermediate ply is also provided at equidistantly spaced points with outwardly projecting peaks 83 of a less height than the peaks 86 and these peaks 88 are fitted within the peaks 86 and the marginal edge of the glass portion of the cabinet rests on these peaks: 88. The walls of the slots 87 engage the upper and lower faces of the glass and prevent shifting of the cabinet relative to the strip. Again referring to FIGURE 17 it can be seen that when the strip rests on the platform sections that the peaks 86 face toward the guide posts 80 so that an approaching cabinet will engage the peaked portions of the strip.

I The cushioning strip advancing and measuring mechanism 27 and strip holding, guiding and dropping mechanism 28 will now be described. At the outset, these mechanisms are arranged transversely of the machine and the strip advancing and measuring mechanism 26 is positioned at one extreme side of the machine and at one end of the strip holding, guiding and dropping mechanism 23. The guillotine or severing mechanism 27 is positioned between the strip advancing mechanism 26 and the strip guiding and dropping mechanism 28.

The strip advancing and measuring mechanism 26 includes a guide chute 89 which receives the peaked strip S from a roll or the like, not shown, and the strip is fed into the guide chute with the peaks uppermost for a purpose which will now appear. The guide chute 89 is rigidly mounted on a transversely adjustable support 90 carried by the standards 57 as will be later set forth. The chute 89 includes a smooth flat bottom wall 91 and side Walls. The chute at its outer end has its side walls preferably curved outwardly to facilitate theguiding of the strip into the chute. The inner or delivery end of the chute is in transverse alignment with a trough 92 which forms a part of the guiding and dropping mechanism 28. Mounted on the chute and the support 91 is an endless chain 93 which constitutes a part of the strip pulling and feeding mechanism. This chain 93 is trained about sprocket wheels 94 mounted for rotation with spaced shafts 95 and 96. These shafts in turn are rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 97 carried by a bracket 98, which in turn is supported by the chute 89 and adjacent parts of the support 90. The shaft 95 is driven from a motor 99 and the drive shaft of the motor has keyed or otherwise secured thereto a drive sprocket wheel 1913 around which is trained a sprocket chain 191. This chain is also trained about a sprocket wheel 1G2 carried by the shaft 95. The chain at equidistantly spaced points carries forwardly projecting fingers 103 and the fingers can if so desired be of a U-shaped in cross-section and these fingers are spaced an exact distance apart which corresponds to the distance between the peaks 86 of the strip 3. The fingers on the lower run of the belt face the smooth wall 91 of the chute 89 and the fingers ride over the strip between the peaks 86 and as the chain 93 is advanced the strip S will be pulled off of the roll and moved through the guillotine or strip severing, mechanism 27 and into the trough 92 of the strip guiding and dropping mechamism 28.

As an exact measured length of the strip S is fed into the trough 92 this exact measured length is then severed by the guillotine mechanism 27. To bring this about a conventional counting device 104 of a well known make is employed and this counting mechanism opens and closes a circuit through a solenoid Operated valve mechanism 105, which is also of a well known make for controlling the flow of air or hydraulic fluid to the opposite ends of an operating cylinder 106 forming a part of the guillotine mechanism 27. The counting mechanism 104- includes the usual swinging lever 107 and the outer end of the lever carries the usual roller 108. This roller is disposed in the path of an actuating cam 109 rigidly secured to the shaft 96 of the strip advancing means. Thus, as the points of the cam ride past the lever, such points will actuate the lever and when the shaft 96 has been turned a given number of times the actuation of the lever 107 operates the counting mechanism to close the circuit through the solenoid valve and permits the entrance of fluid into the upper end of the cylinder 1% for bringing about the operating of the guillotine. The guillotine or strip severing mechanism 27 includes an anvil or base 119 which is rigidly mounted on the support 90. The support also carries the trough 92. Hence, when the support is adjusted transversely of the machine to permit the accurate centering of the strip S relative to the space between the platform sections 56; the strip advancing mechanism 26, the guillotine mechanism 27 and the strip guide mechanism 28 (including the trough 92) will all be carried therewith.

At this time, it can be seen that the support 90 includes a main supporting channel beam 111, which extends entirely across the machine and a short front angle beam 112. The angle beam 112 is of an L-shape in top plan and is secured to and cooperates with the main beam 111 to support the anvil 119. The front transversely extending portion of the angle 111 cooperates with a part of the frame 30 to carry the support 90, as will be later set forth. The anvil 119 has formed thereon a stationary cutting blade 114 over which the strip S travels. Rigidly carried by the anvil 110 and extending upwardly therefrom, are spaced guide posts 115, and these guide posts slidably support a cutting head 116 which is provided with a shearing cutting blade 117 which cooperates with the anvil blade 114. The upper ends of the posts 115 are rigidly secured together by a tie iron 118 and it is this tie iron that carries the cylinder 106 for operating the cutter head. It can be seen that a piston rod 119 extending ing a bottom wall 120, a rear wall 121 and a hinged top holding wall 122. The inner edge of this wall is connected by hinges 123 with the upper edge of the rear wall 121.

It is to be noted that the outer edge of the top holding wall 122 is provided with a turn down strip retaining lip 124. The entire trough 92 is mounted for swinging movement on the main beam 111. Hence the lower inner corner of the trough at spaced points is provided with hinge leaves 125 which co-act with hinge leaves 126 carried by the beam and these leaves are joined by hinge pins 127. After the desired length of the strip has been cut and a cabinet C is advancing, the entire trough swings down over the platform sections 56 by means which will now be pointed out. However, it is to be noted that as the trough lowers from its substantially horizontal position to a depending vertical position, that the upper wall 122 of the trough is swung outwardly to release the strip from the trough. This is accomplished by securing rearwardly extending arms 128 to the top wall 122 and these arms have connected thereto flexible chains 129 or the like. The inner ends of the chains are secured to the cross beam 111 in any suitable manner, such as by the use of headed studs 1341. The chains are of an exact length and as the trough swings down the chains tighten and move the top wall 122 outwardly. This is also best shown in FIGURE 17. It is to be noted that the trough 92 swings down directly between the guide posts and the guide walls 81 on the platform sections 56. This insures the proper guiding and falling of the severed length of the strip S onto the platform sections and in the correct position to be engaged by an advancing cabinet C.

The trough is swung up and down at proper intervals by suitable actuating mechanism which can include operating cylinders 131 carried by the cross beam 111. Piston rods 132 extend out of the cylinders toward the trough and these rods are pivotally connected to the rear wall 121 of the trough by means of pivot pins 133. Upon the admittance of fluid into the outer end of the cylinders the rods 132 will move forwardly and hence swing down the troughs. When the direction of fluid is reversed and fluid enters the forward ends of the cylinders then the rods 132 are drawn inwardly and the trough will be returned to its normal raised position.

The means for slidably carrying the support 91) includes spaced sleeves or cuffs 134 which embrace and slidably support the main beam 111. These guide sleeves or cuffs 134 are mounted on a part of the framework 3t) and this part of the-framework 30 will now be set forth. The framework 30 includes a transversely extending T-shaped cross beam 135 rigidly secured to the upright standards 57. The cuffs in turn carry attaching lips 136 which are welded or otherwise secured to the upright face of the T beam 135. The cuff or guide sleeve 134 at the side of the machine remote from the strip advancing mechanism 26 carries a roller 137 which bears against the upper face of the main cross beam 111. This prevents binding of the cross beam 111 in this cuff during the sliding of this beam for adjustment. The support including its main beam 111 is also supported by the framework 30 adjacent to the strip feeding mechanism 26 and the anvil 27 and the short angle 112 of the support 90 can rest on an angle bar 138 forming a part of the framework 30. This angle 138 is best shown in FIGURES l and 12 and the same extends in front of the main beam 111 across the front of the trough 92 and toward the table top section 32 where the same extends downwardly and forms a part of the framework for the table top section. After adjustment of the support 90 is had, the same can be locked in such adjusted position 51 by the means of U-shaped cl mpu139 which bears against the angle 112 of the support 911 and the rigid angle bar 138. The clamp 13 9 is carried by a headed adjusting screw 140 carried bythe angle 112. By adjusting the screw it can be seen that the clamps will be brought into tight binding contact with the angle 1'12 and the angle beam 138;

The means 29 for receiving a stack of carton flats F for dropping one flat at a time and for setting up and squaring a dropped carton, is as stated, mounted on a part of the framework 30 and this part of the framework is increased in width to take care of the parts of the mechanism 29. Hence, this framework 31} atthis point includes rear upright standards 141 which are in longitudinal alignment with the standards 57 and the standards 141 are connected with the standards 57 by upper longitudinally extending T-shaped bars 142 and intermediate angle shaped frame bars 143. To form a stable 1 base the standards 14 1and 57 are joined by base angle bars 144. The standards 14 1 are joined at their top by a transversely extending beam 145 and this beam is parallel with and in the same horizontal piane as the T-shaped beam 135. The standards 141 are further conneoted by an intermediate rear cross bar M6. The bars 143 and 146 constitute means for supporting a flat horizontally disposed work table 147 which constitutes a part of the mechanism 29.

Arranged above the table 147 is the hopper 148 for receiving the stack of carton flats and the hopper carries the means for dropping one carton fiat at a time onto the table 147 where the same is automatically set up in its tubular or sleeve form. The hopper 146 includes pairs of upright hopper brackets 149, which in effect constitute side walls for the hopper. These brackets 149 and associated carton fiat dropping means can be adjusted transversely of the machine toward and away from one another so as to accurately set the machine for a certain size carton. As can be seen the pairs of hopper side brackets 149 are independent of one another and each pair of brackets is mounted on a carriage 1511 to permit the transverse adjustment thereof. Each carriage 150 includes a flat plate 151 on which the lowermost carton rests and the plate of each carriage is rigidly mounted upon a T-shaped supporting beam 152. The plate 151 of each carriage slidably rests upon the upper surface of the rear top frame beam 145 and the beam @135. The beams 152 ride between the frame beams 135 and 145. Each carriage 150 also includes outwardly extending frame pieces 153 which are rigidly secured to the plates 151 and the beams 152. The extreme outer ends of the frame plates 1.53 are rigidly connected together by a short strap 154. This provides a rugged carriage structure for carrying the stack of carton flats P and certain carton releasing mechanism as will now be set forth.

It is to be noted that the plates 151 of each carriage project inwardly a short distance from the brackets 149 and these projecting edges of the plates 151 constitute ledges or seats upon which the side edges of the carton flats F rest. Each pair of brackets 149 of the carriage carry reciprocating pusher plates 155 for the carton flats and the brackets are so formed at their bases to provide guides for these sliding pushers 155. To form the guides, the bases of the brackets at their side edges are separated by spacer plates 15:? and the pushers 1555 slide between these spacer plates. The pusher plates 155 for each carriage are rigidly connected together by a cross strap 157 so that the pusher plates for each carriage will function in unison. The pusher plates for each carriage are actuated back and forth by air or hydraulic cylinders 1533. The cylinders have projecting forwardly therefrom the actuating piston rods 159 which are rigidly connected to the rear ends of the pusher plates 155 for each carriage. The entrance and exit of fluid from the opposite ends of the cylinders 158 for reciprocating the rods back and forth is controlled at proper times by means of a sole- 111 noid operated valve 160. The timing of these valves will be later set forth. Briefly, the means for dropping one carton flat at a time operates as follows, and this operation is best shown in FIGURE 19. At the proper time, fluid is admitted to the rear ends of the cylinders 158 for the pusher plates for one carriage on one side of the machine. As these plates at one side move inwardly the same push the lowermost carton fiat oh of the supporting plate 151 at that side of the machine and the carton flat tilts. The pusher plates 155 on this side move to their normal position and the pusher plates 151 are moved forwardly by their cylinders and the lowermost flat is pushed oif of the adjacent plate 151. The pusher plates 155 on this side of the machine are then immediately returned to their normal position. The carton fiat then drops onto the work or set up table 147. The carton fiat is guided in its falling movement toward the work or set up table 1 57 by a front vertically disposed guide plate 161 and a rear'guide plate 1%. The front guide plate 161 can be secured at its lower end to an adjacent part of the frame 319 (see FIG. 18). The rear guide plate 162 can be adjustably carried by the plate 151 of one carriage 155, as best shown in FIGURE 1. This rear guide terminates above the table 147 and above a set up carton so as to be out of the path of a carton when the same is discharged from the machine. Besides the front and rear carton guide and stops 16:1 and 162, side guides 163 and 164 are also provided for the edges of the carton flats, as will be later set out.

However, the side guides 1 64' are secured to and depend from one carriage 15d and preferably are inwardly and downwardly inclined, as at 165.

To bring about the adjustment of the carriages 151 toward and away from one another to agree with a certain size carton'size the beams 152 have mounted on or formed thereon bearing brackets me which rotatably support adjusting shafts 167. These adjusting shafts can be turned by means of hand wheels or cranks. Each shaft has keyed or otherwise secured thereto pinions 16% which mesh with rack bars carried by beams 135 and 145 of the frame. By turning these shafts the carriages can be easily moved back and forth.

After a carton flat is dropped onto the work or set up table 147 the novel means employed for setting up the carton is then brought into play, as will be now described. The cartons being handled are of a common type and of a character which includes top and bottom walls 171 and 172 joined by side walls 173. The carton is of course folded in its flat condition along the juncture of the side walls with the top and bottom Walls. The opposite ends of the top and bottom walls 171 and 172 carry respectively side sealing flaps 174 and the side walls 173 carry end sealing flaps 175. With the carton in its fiat condition these flaps 175 lie in their extended positions. The carton opening means comprises a picker mechanism 176 positioned on one side of the work table 147 and directly below the pair of brackets 149 forming a part of one carriage. On the other side of the table is positioned a carton squaring up mechanism 177.

Now referring to the picking mechanism 176, the same includes a swinging picker arm 178. This picker arm includes a frame 179 pivoted at its lower end to brackets carried by a fiat slide plate 180, which is adjustably mounted on the table 1 17. The frame includes side channels in which is slidably mounted a picker plate 181. The picker plate in turn carries a set of picker points 182. These picker points are provided with threaded stems 183 and the stems can be turned in the picker plate for minute adjustment and can be held in such adjustment by lock nuts 184. The entire swinging picker arm 176 is actuated through the medium of an air or hydraulic cylinder 185. This cylinder is pivoted at its outer end, as at 156, to a bracket 187 carried by the slide plate 180, Extending forwardly from the cylinder 185 is the operating piston 138 and this piston is pivotally connected, as at 189, to the picker plate 181 of the picker arm 176. When fluid is admitted to the outer end of the cylinder 1555 the piston rod 188 is thrust forwardly and the entire picker arm will be swung down moving the points 182 into piercing and picking engagement With the side wall of the carton. During this swinging movement the cylinder 185 swings down and the picker plate slides slightly in its frame to compensate for the swinging movement of the cylinder and swinging of the supporting frame of the swinging picker arm.

When fluid is admitted to the inner end of the cylinder 135 then the piston rod moves rearwardly and the entire picking arm is swung back to its raised position and this is aided by a contractile coil spring 1%. The opposite ends of the "spring 1% are secured to the picker arm and to the slide plate 181?. As the picker arm swings back to its normal position the side wall of the carton will be raised against the side stops and guides 163 and the top wall 171 will be swung up carrying the other side wall therewith to a carton set up position, namely, in its tubular or sleeve form. The side guides and stops 163 are carried by the slide plate 181 and the upper ends thereof abut adjacent adjustable stops 163 carried by an adjacent carriage 151?. As the carton flat is being opened up by the picker arm 176 the squaring up mechanism 177 comes into play.

This carton squaring up mechanism 177 includes a flat arm 191 which normally lies within an opening 192 in the table top 147 so that said arm will be flush with the table top and a dropped carton flat normally rests on said arm 191. The inner end of the arm is pivoted, as at 1%, to the table top at a point adjacent to the point of juncture of the side wall of the carton with its bottom wall. Hence, as the squaring up arm 191 is raised this arm pushes up on the side wall of the carton which is opposite to the side wall raised by the picker arm. The squaring up arm carries a top squaring up plate 194 and this top squaring up plate extends at right angles to the squaring up arm 191. If desired an adjusting means 195 can be provided for locating the top squaring up plate 1% in an exact position on the arm 191. The means employed for actuating the squaring up mechanism 177 preferably consists of an air or hydraulic cylinder 1% and the cylinder 196 is pivoted, as at 197 to a bracket 198 carried by the lower face of the table 1 57. Extending upwardly and forwardly from the cylinder 1% is a piston rod 199 which is in turn pivoted as at Ziltl to the squaring up plate 191. It can be seen that when fluid is admitted to the outer end of the cylinder the piston rod will be forced forwardly moving the squaring up mechanism to a raised position and carrying the carton therewith into its tubular form. When the direction of fluid is reversed the piston rod 19? is pulled inwardly and the squaring up mechanism is then pulled down to its normal position.

The flow of fluid to the opposite ends of the cylinder is controlled by a suitable solenoid operated valve.

With the carton in its set up condition the same is now ready to receive a cabinet C and at this time the pusher 47 moves forwardly and pushes the cabinet between the space of the platform sections 56 into engagement with the cushioning strip S and as the cabinet is further advanced the strip is folded around the sides of the cabinet. vMeans is provided for-facilitating the guiding of the cabinet out into the open carton with the strip thereabout. This guide means includes swinging spring pressed guide gates 2111 rockably mounted on posts 202 carried by the platform sections 56 adjacent to their inner edges. The gates are spring urged to a normal position across the space between the platform sections 56 and hence an advancing cabinet will push these gates inwardly and the gates will press against the cushioning strip S and help to hold the folded sides of the strip against the side edges of the mirror portion of the cabinet. The folding back of the cushioning strip around the sides of the cabinet is facilitated by the guide posts 80 carried by the platform sections. As the guide gates swing inwardly the same engage and push out on the side carton flaps 17S and the gates and the flaps cooperate to guide the cabinet into theset up carton. By referring to FIGURE 18 it can be seen that the gates at their lower inner ends and adjacent to their pivot posts are provided with ears 203 to which are attached contractile coil springs 204. The outer ends of the springs are secured to the platform sections 56.

Suspended from the T-beam 135 is a flexible curtain 295 and this curtain extends directly in the path of a forwardly moving carton. The curtain can be made from heavy rubber sheeting or a desired plastic material. Hence, when an advancing cabinet is swinging back the guide gates 201 the same is also swinging back the flexible curtain and this curtain swings under and helps to lift up the top carton flap 174 and the curtain and this flap also act to guide the cabinet into the carton.

With the cabinet pusher 47 in its extreme advanced position and with a cabinet in a carton the loaded carton is now ready to be moved out of the machine. The means for moving a loaded carton out of the machine cooperates with and is actuated by the cabinet pushing mechanism, and includes an endless chain 206. The chain is located under the work table-147 and directly beneath a longitudinally extending slot 207 formed on the table top. The lower stretch of the chain is operatively con nected to the pusher arms by a forwardly extending connecting rod 208. Hence, as the pusher is reciprocated back and forth the upper stretch of the endless chain is also moved back and forth. The chain can be trained about spaced sprocket wheels 2119 rotatably mounted upon cross shafts 2'10 carried by depending brackets formed on or secured to the lower face of the table 147. The other stretch of the chain has pivotally connected thereto a carton grappling hook 211. The hook 211 normally lies down on the upper stretch of the chain. As the pusher mechanism moves forwardly the lower stretch of the chain 206 is pushed rearwardly and the upper stretch forwardly, carrying the hook 211 therewith. At the end of the pusher stroke the hook rides up on a cam shoe 212 to a position with the hook terminal thereof disposed above the table top. As the cabinet pusher moves forwardly to its normal returned position the same through the medium of the connecting rod 208 pulls the lower chain stretch forwardly and the upper chain stretch rearwardly. With the hook 211 riding forwardly with the chain the same engages a loaded carton and moves the loaded carton out of the machine.

Means is provided at the forward end of the cabinet conveyor 34 to stop the feeding of the incoming cabinets C to the machine M until such time that the machine is ready to handle the same. That is, until a first cabinet has passed through the machine and into a set up carton and the set up carton with a first cabinet moved from out of the machine. This means can consist of a vertically disposed stop plunger 213. The plunger is slidably mounted upon a piston rod 214 of a fluid operated cylinder 215. An expansion coil spring 216 normally slides the plunger to a raised position and in the path of oncoming cabinets. Sliding movement of the stop plunger 213 is limited by a headed pin 217 carried by the piston 214 and this pin is received in a longitudinally extending slot 218 in said plunger. Considering that the piston 214 is in a raised position then the stop plunger 213 can move under the influence of'the spring 216 to a raised position. The cylinder 215 is of the type in which the piston is spring returned and the piston is raised when fluid is admitted to the lower end thereof then the piston can return to its lowered position under the influence of its spring, pulling the plunger 213 down and out of the way of an incoming cabinet. When the piston is returned to its raised position then the plunger can spring up when a cabinet rides past the same.

Manual control switches can be provided for closing circuits for the various operating motor and solenoid controlled valves; however, it is preferred to employ auto,- matic control mechanism and electric circuits therefor and the automatic controls and circuits form no part of the present invention; however, the location of control switches have been shown and will now be set forth. Thus, the solenoid operated valve 219 is provided with a switch lever 220 that is normally spring urged to a raised position as shown in FIGURE 5, and is held in a lowered position by an advancing cabinet (see FIG. 4).

A control switch 221 having a normally raised switch lever 222 is located at the extreme front of the machine and the lever is disposed in the path of incomingcabinets, and controls the operation of the electric motor 37 for the conveyor 34. This is also best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. Controls 223, 224 and 225 are provided for the proper feeding, cutting and dropping of the cushion strip S. The switch 223 is operated by the guillotine mechanism; switch 224 is actuated by the trough for the cushioning strip and the falling of the strip itself onto the plate form sections 56 controls the switch 225.

Switches 226, 227 and 228 are provided for controlling the operation of the dropping of a carton fiat and the setting up mechanism for a carton flat.

Thus it can be seen that machine M has been provided for receiving cabinets from a factory conveyor system; for advancing the cabinets one at a time by a conveyor and pusher toward a cushioning strip dropping and holding mechanism; for folding the'cushioning strip around a CI! the mirror portion of each cabinet; for dropping a carton flat; for setting up the carton flat in its tubular form; for pushing a cabinet with the cushioning strip thereabout into the set up carton and finally pulling a loaded carton from the machine.

While one preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown, it is to be understood that various changes in details can be made providing the same do not depart from the spirit and the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for packaging cabinets and the like comprising a hopper for receiving a stack of carton flats, a set up table disposed below the hopper, means for dropping a carton flat on the table one at a time, means for setting up the car-ton flat into a tubular form on the table, means for advancing a cabinet toward the table and the set up carton, a cushioning strip feeding means disposed between the carton set up mechanism and the cabinet advancing means, means for receiving the strip, means for severing a measured length of the strip, means for dropping the measured length of the strip in front of an advancing cabinet, pusher means for engaging a cabinet, and for further advancing a cabinet to the dropped measured length of cushioning strip for folding the cushioning strip thereabout and for pushing a cabinet with the cushioning strip thereabout into a carton on the set up table.

2. A machine for packaging cabinets and the like comprisinga hopper for receiving a stack of carton flats, a set up table disposed below the hopper, means for dropping one carton flat at a time on the table, means for setting up the carton flat into a tubular form on the table, means for advancing a cabinet toward the table and set up carton, a packaging cushioning strip feeding means disposed between the carton set up mechanism and the cabinet advancing mechanism, means for receiving the strip from the feeding means, means for severing a measured length of the fed cushioning strip, a platform disposed directly below the strip receiving means, said platform including spaced sections between which an advancing cabinet is adapted -to travel, means for dropping the severed length of strip from the receiving means onto the platform with the strip extending across the space between its sections, restraining means for holding the strip on the platform, pusher means for engaging a cabinet and for further advancing a cabinet to the cushioning strip and past the platform for folding the cushioning 14 strip thereabout and for pushing the cabinet with the cushioning strip thereabout into a set up carton on the table.

3. A machine for packaging cabinets and the like comprising a hopper for receiving a stack of carton flats, a set up table disposed below the hopper, means for dropping one carton flat at a time on the table, means for setting up the carton flat into a tubular form on'the table, means for advancing a cabinet toward the table and set up carton, a packaging cushioning strip feeding means providing a measured, length of strip disposed between the carton set up mechanism and the cabinet advancing means, means for receiving the strip from the strip feeding means, a platform disposed below the strip receiving means including a pair of spaced sections between which advancing cabinets are adapted to travel, means for dropping the measured length of strip from the strip receiving means to the platform with the strip spanning the sections thereof, guide means on the platform sections for receiving a dropped strip and for initially holding the strip on the platform sections, pusher means for engaging a cabinet and for further advancing a cabinet through the space between the platform sections and against the dropped cushioning strip for carrying the dropped strip off of the platform and the guide means for folding the cushioning strip about the cabinet and for pushing a cabinet with the cushioning strip into a carton on the set up table.

4. A machine for packaging cabinets and the like as defined in claim 3, said carton being of the type including top and bottom walls and side walls and top and bottom and side fiaps carried by said walls, and hinged gates carried by the platform sections and normally held across the space between the sections and movable inwardly by an advancing carton into engagement with side wall flaps for facilitating the guiding of a cabinet into a set up carton, said gates being spring urged to their normal position and being adapted to engage the cushioning strip for aiding in holding the folded strip about the cabinet during the movement of the cabinet into a set up carton.

5. A machine for packaging cabinets and the like as defined in claim 4, and a depending flexible apron normally disposed in front of an advancing cabinet and adapted to be engaged by said cabinet and moved in wardly by the advancing of the cabinet into engagement with a top wall flap of a carton for further facilitating the guiding of a cabinet into a carton.

6. A machine for packaging cabinets and the like as defined in claim 5, and means for adjusting the platform sections toward and away from each other according to the size of a cabinet being advanced.

7. A machine for packaging cabinets and the like comprising a hopper for receiving a stack of carton flats, a set up table disposed below the hopper, means for dropping one carton flat at a time on the table, means for setting up the carton flat into a tubular form on the table, means for advancing a cabinet toward the table and set up carton, a packaging cushioning strip feeding means disposed between the carton set up mechanism and the cabinet advancing means, means for receiving the strip, means for dropping the strip in front of an advancing cabinet, said cushioning packaging strip being of the type including a base ply and at least a second ply having outwardly projecting equidistantly spaced cushioning peaks, said cushioning strip feeding means including a chute disposed transversely of the machine and in alignment with the strip receiving means, a power driven endless chain having laterally projecting slats projecting across the chute with the slats spaced equal distances apart and the same distance apart as the peaks for engaging the strip between the peaks for advancing the strip from the chute to the strip receiving means, a strip cutting means disposed between the chute and the strip feeding means, means for automatically operating the strip cutting means upon the advancement of a predetermined length of strip by said chain and its slats, and pusher means for engaging a cabinet and for further ad vancing a cabinet to the cushioning strip for folding the cushioning strip thereabout and for pushing a cabinet with the cushioning strip into a carton on the set up table.

8. A machine for packaging cabinets and the like comprising a hopper for receiving a stack of carton flats, a set up table disposed below the hopper, means for dropping one carton flat at a time on the table, means for setting up the carton flat into a tubular form on the table,

means for advancing a cabinet toward thc table and set up carton, a packaging cushioning strip feeding means disposed between the carton set up mechanism and the cabinet advancing means, means for receiving the strip, means for dropping the strip in front of an advancing cabinet, said strip receiving means including a hinged trough for the strip having a bottom wall, a rear wall and a hinged top wall leaving the trough with an open front, the forward edge of the top wall being flanged downwardly toward the open front, and said means for dropping the strip in front of an advancing cabinet including means for rocking the trough to a lowered position with its open front downwardly and means for swing the top wall away from the rear wall, and pusher means for engaging a cabinet and for further advancing a cabinet to the cushioning strip for folding the cushioning strip thereabout and for pushing a cabinet with the cushioning strip into a carton on the set up table.

9. A machine for packaging cabinets and the like as defined in claim 8 and means for adjusting the trough laterally of the machine for facilitating the positioning of the strip correctly in front of an advancing cabinet.

10. A machine for packaging cabinets and the like comprising a hopper for receiving a stack of carton flats, a set up table disposed below the hopper, means for dropping one carton flat at a time on the table, means for setting up the carton flat into a tubular form on the table, means for advancing a cabinet toward the table and a set up carton, a packaging cushioning strip feeding means disposed between the carton set up mechanism and the cabinet advancing means, means for receiving the strip from the strip feeding means including a hinged trough, a platform disposed below the hinged trough for receiving a strip therefrom and including a pair of spaced sections between which an advancing cabinet travels, spaced strip holding posts carried by said sections and strip holding walls carried by said sections disposed .in front of said posts, means for tilting and swinging the trough downward to drop the cushioning strip between the posts and the walls to hold the strip temporarily on the platform and across the space between the platform sections, pusher means for engaging a cabinet and for further advancing a cabinet to the cushioning strip and past the platform and said posts and walls for folding the cushioning strip about the cabinet and for pushing the cabinet with the cushioning strip into a carton on the set up table.

11. A machine for packaging cabinets and the like comprising a hopper for receiving a stack of carton flats, a set up table disposed below the hopper, means for dropping carton flats one at a time on the table, means for setting up the dropped carton flat into a tubular form on the table, means for advancing a cabinet toward the table and set up carton, a packaging cushioning strip feeding means disposed between the carton set up mechanism and the cabinet advancing means, means for receiving the strip from the strip feeding means including a hinged trough having an open front, means for swinging the trough downwardly to drop a cushioning strip therefrom, a platform including a pair of spaced sections disposed below the trough and for receiving the dropped strip, said section being spaced a distance apart to permit the travel of a cabinet therebetween for engaging a dropped strip, pusher means for engaging a cabinet and for further advancing the cabinet to the cushioning strip and off of the platform for folding the cushioning strip thereabout and for pushing a cabinet with the cushioning strip into a carton on the set up table, said pusher means including a reciprocating piston rod positioned below the cabinet advancing means, upwardly extending pusher arms for engaging a cabinet on said piston rod, said piston rod and its operating means being disposed under the set up table and hinged thereto, a guide track extending longitudinally of the cabinet advancing means having a front inclined section, rollers on said pusher arms engaging the track for travel thereover and with the pusher arms below the cabinet advancing means when said rollers are on the forward ends of the inclined section of said track, said pusher arms being movable up the inclined section of the track for engagement with a cabinet upon rearward movement of the piston rod, and means for conveying a loaded carton from the machine including an endless chain carried by the set up table, a carton grappling hook pivoted to the upper run of said chain and with said hook normally lying against said chain, means including a connecting rod operatively connecting the lower stretch of the chain with the pusher arms whereby said chain will be moved back and forth with the reciprocation of said piston rod, and a cam shoe disposed at the forward end of said table and in the path of the pivoted grappling hook for raising said grappling hook into carton engaging position when the upper stretch of the chain reaches the end of its forward motion of travel.

12. A machine for packaging cabinets and the like as defined in claim 11, and means for adjusting the platform sections laterally toward and away from one another and up and down in a horizontal plane according to cabinet widths and cushioning strip widths.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,557,574 10/1925 Ferguson et al. 53-156 1,624,203 4/1927 Aldrich et al. 53-170 1,772,170 8/1930 Uttz 83-369 1,938,482 12/1933 Chalmers 53-174 X 2,263,501 11/1941 Jones 53-156 2,496,524 2/1950 Dunaway 198-166 2,581,491 1/1952 Linstedt 93-39 2,671,553 3/1954 Herndon 198-166 2,716,818 9/1955 Fitler 83-369 2,801,578 8/1957 Bayley 93-39 2,972,842 2/1961 Hitchcock 53-186 X FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, BERNARD STICKNEY, I Examiners. 

1. A MACHINE FOR PACKAGING CABINETS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A HOPPER FOR RECEIVING A STACK OF CARTON FLATS, A SET UP TABLE DISPOSED BELOW THE HOPPER, MEANS FOR DROPPING A CARTON FLAT ON THE TABLE ONE AT A TIME, MEANS FOR SETTING UP THE CARTON FLAT INTO A TUBULAR FORM ON THE TABLE, MEANS FOR ADVANCING A CABINET TOWARD THE TABLE AND THE SET UP CARTON, A CUSHIONING STRIP FEEDING MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN THE CARTON SET UP MECHANISM AND THE CABINET ADVANCING MEANS, MEANS FOR RECEIVING THE STRIP, MEANS FOR SEVERING A MEASURED LENGTH OF THE STRIP, MEANS FOR DROPPING THE MEASURED LENGTH OF THE STRIP IN FRONT OF AN AD- 